High-Income Shoppers Flock to Walmart & Jersey Mike’s $8B Bet to Take On Subway
Nov 20, 2024
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Walmart is strategically attracting high-income shoppers, reporting impressive earnings as they gear up for the holidays. Jersey Mike's is making waves with an $8 billion investment from Blackstone, positioning itself as a contender against Subway. Meanwhile, Jaguar is rebranding for the ultra-luxury electric vehicle market. Northwestern is pushing boundaries with plans for a groundbreaking stadium experience. Tune in for insights on these trends and the latest headlines to keep you informed!
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Quick takeaways
Walmart's impressive third-quarter earnings reveal a successful strategy targeting high-income shoppers, significantly boosting its market share and online sales.
Blackstone's acquisition of Jersey Mike's underscores the sandwich chain's growth potential as it aims to expand its locations from 3,000 to 10,000, outperforming competitors.
Deep dives
Walmart's Remarkable Growth
Walmart reported impressive third-quarter earnings, with comparable U.S. sales growing by 5.3%, significantly surpassing expectations. The retailer's online sales soared by 22%, demonstrating its ability to compete in the e-commerce arena against giants like Amazon. Notably, affluent shoppers, particularly those with households earning over $100,000 a year, accounted for 75% of Walmart's market share gains. This shift in customer demographics is part of Walmart's strategic pivot toward premium offerings, including a new line of upscale food products.
Jersey Mike's Rapid Expansion
Private equity firm Blackstone acquired a majority stake in Jersey Mike's, valuing the sandwich chain at approximately $8 billion. Originally started in 1975, Jersey Mike's has achieved remarkable growth, with plans to expand from 3,000 locations to 10,000. The company has consistently outperformed competitors, with its locations generating around $1.4 million per unit in sales, significantly higher than rival Subway. This strategic partnership with Blackstone is expected to accelerate Jersey Mike's growth, leveraging the financial resources of a $220 billion firm.
Jaguar's Bold Rebranding Attempt
Jaguar is embarking on a significant rebranding strategy aimed at revitalizing its market presence, marked by the introduction of minimalist logos and a focus on luxury electric vehicles. The automaker, which struggled with fewer than 67,000 global sales last year, is repositioning itself to compete with high-end brands like Porsche and Bentley. Despite criticism of a recent ad that featured no cars, Jaguar hopes this fresh approach will detach it from its previous image and appeal to a more affluent customer base. With a goal of retaining only 15% of its existing customers, the company is moving toward an entirely new identity centered around electric vehicles.
Episode 457: Neal and Toby recap Walmart’s latest earnings report that shows the retail giant is in a very healthy spot heading into the holiday season. Then, private equity firm Blackstone acquired a majority stake in Jersey Mike’s Subs that could make the sandwich chain the new sandwich leader. Next, Jaguar reveals a brand new set of logos and designs, signaling its move to ultra-luxury in the electric vehicle segment. Is this the right move? Meanwhile, Northwestern unveils a brand new stadium project that could put professional sports stadiums to shame. Lastly, the biggest headlines to close out your day. Booyah!
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